To tell my boss she can't look through my pockets?

[ScaryBoss]

I'm a nurse in the nhs.

New boss is randomly stopping people and demanding to see their nails to make sure they're clean and not too long. Checking earrings, socks, etc conform to uniform policy. I can kind of cope with this though do slightly resent it.

But also asking you to empty your pockets to make sure you don't have a mobile phone in your pocket? Can she do this? A police officer couldn't without a warrent?

There's nothing in the uniform policy saying you can't have your phone in your pocket. Obv taking it out and answering calls or texting would be very unprofessional. However a lot of staff have their phone in their pocket on silent incase a school or childminder need to contact us. So we'd feel it vibrate and go and check it when possible after doing what we're doing.

We can't give a ward/land line number to schools, etc as we are often moved to different wards without notice so don't know where we are from one day to another.

Doesn't sound right, maybe check contract and code of conduct? Ask rcn too.

Have you read the whole thread Altkinmum? I can't give the school every ward phone number in the hospital and tell them to work down the list as I don't know where I'll be until I get to work.

Does the main switchboard have a facility to track you down should someone phone for you?

We are not allowed a mobile on the shop floor - it is written into our contract - as is the fact that we may be asked to show the contents of our pockets at any time (shop - so theft based).

Work and moblie phones rarely mix, so I can see why the new boss wants it stamped down on. What would have been done before the mobile phone?

I would give them your work number - and insist on being allowed to phone the school/childminder every time it was changed if it was that important to be contactable at no notice at all times. I give my work number to be used in emergencies only - it has never been rung (in 12 years).

Or leave phone in locker/bag and check every couple of hours/when you go to the loo if not that important.

I can see her point.

I have been treated in the past by staff who may have been the best nurses in the world, but still struck me as slightly grubby.

As to the phone. I would have thought that it would be distracting in your pocket. If it goes off in the middle of treating a patient you'll be wondering what it's about and be in a hurry to deal with it. Also, I bet some get loads of calls/reminders/alerts in a day, none of which are to do with children or school.

There needs to be somewhere you can leave them to check in a break.

Main switchboard can't track us down, they don't know who's working where.

We're only allowed to keep our bags in a basement locker, not on the ward. Never get time to go back to the basement to check on the phone.

Keep it in your bra, she won't ask to check there ;)

Give them them the hospital switchboard number.

I wouldn't tell her no just yet, check your contract/code of conduct/professional guidance first.

If you are uncontactable at work, could you have someone else who is the main contact?

My daughters school will work their way down the contact list if they can't get me as I can't always answer my phone at work.

Mmmm, maybe some people might get lots of phone calls, etc and alerts but only dh, dd, dd's school and my mum have my mobile number. I really do only use it for emergencies. So I can count on the fingers on one hand how many times its vibrated at work in six years.

Then you need to use someone else as an emergency contact for the school.

DH has to do this and there is no way to phone contact him at work.

Altkinmum, it wouldn't happen. It really wouldn't. Switchboard would just say they didnt know where I was working, etc. even if a message got to my boss she's not going to come out of important meetings, etc to track me down to tell me dd has thrown up, etc.

Well, maybe you don't get contacted by others but other nurses might get a lot of text/calls.

Keeping it in my bra is a good idea!

I work in a nhs clinic and we not allowed mobiles. They locked away in lockers. We had a lecture recently on bacteria on our mobiles and each were checked. Can't you give main switchboard and inform them which ward you on. I think you need to check your contract re mobiles first before talking to your boss.

Aye I would keep it in my bra or are even pagers still in use these days?

If the contract states no mobiles on your person, then that is it. You need to use spsomeone else, like your dh or mum as a contact.

If you are not allowed your mobile, then you are not allowed - a lot of people are not allowed - perhaps bosses were lax in the past - mobile phones are not hygienic to have and be touched in the wards.

you need to work out how to be contactable or find someone else who can be contacted in your stead, instead of putting obstacles at every path or suggesting the boss might be doing something not allowed - you need to work it out.

Dh works two hours away.

There's noone else.

I think not being allowed to keep in pocket is pretty strict. I usually keep mine in there (st mw) because there are not always enough lockers and bags in break room are not secure so it is the most sensible place.
However I don't think they should be on vibrate even unless you need to be contacted fora specific reason. In general from what I have seen people who need to be contacted let sister know at start of shift.
Do you not have an alternative emergency contact number for another family member or friend? We make sure there is another number though dh is the main contact but we also have am alternative since if I'm on the ward I may not check my phone and dh is often a couple of hours away.

Contract doesn't say anything about mobiles. Neither does the uniform policy. The main things I use my phone for at work are drug calculations and google translate.

But H can take the call if you can't be contacted while at work?